Early Life Dentist Visit may Not Lower Risk of Cavities

U.S., March 1 -- According to a new study by a team of researchers from the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Public Health, visiting a dentist at an early life as early as 2-years-old may not avert risk of cavities at a later stage.
For the study, the researchers selected 20,000 children and followed them for at least four years. Around one-quarter of the children received preventive dental care before the age of 2.
The findings of the study revealed that the children who had prevented dental care at an early life were at a higher risk of requiring a cavity treatment as they grew older. The study also noted that nearly 21 percent of the children who received preventive dental care needed treatment for tooth decay over the next several years as compared to 11 percent among children who did not receive any treatment even though both the groups of children were similar in terms of demographics and their families' overall health care use.
The findings of the study were published in the JAMA Pediatrics.